End of the Year festivities!

Wow....the end of the school year came and went so quickly!!

The last few weeks of school were consumed with EOG (End of Grade) testing at my school.  My students were tested in reading and math.  For all my Iowa friends who aren't familiar with this, students are given a (ridiculously long, over analyzed) standardized test and then given a score ranging from a 1-4, where a 3 or 4 are considered "passing".  No matter how you look at it, this is one of the biggest ways teachers are "assessed" on their performance for the school year.  Anyways, students 3-8 are all tested on the same day for reading and then math (which is a 2 day test).  They are long...and I mean 3-4 hours long.  And as an "administrator" I was expected to stand the whole time and walk around, monitoring for "foul-play".  Without going into much detail, it was awful and so stressful.  This took about a week to prepare and then take the tests.  THEN.....if students did not pass, they had to remediate for a week in whatever subject they did not pass, and then RETAKE the test.  Without being too "political" on this topic, I will at least say I was so glad it was over.  My students did very well and I was so please with their scores! :)

Once EOG's were over, we were finally able to celebrate the end of the school year.  Thanks to a great idea from my stepmom, Kim,  the 4th grade teachers arranged for our students to have a "Minute to Win It" day filled with games from the TV show.  To say we had a blast is an understatement.  The kids were so happy to be outside and playing (noneducational) games after a long 3 weeks of EOG prep and testing.  I wish I would have been thinking ahead to bring my camera but, per usual, I forgot.  Sorry! But imagine (organized) chaos with students running around balancing balloons on their heads, trying to eat Oreo's off their foreheads without using their hands, and squeezing Tic-Tac's with tweezers...Good mental picture, huh?

The last day of school was so bittersweet for me.  I had been thinking about this day for weeks and it was finally here and I was SAD! I didn't want my first class to leave me! They all found special places in my heart over the school year and will stay there forever! They have taught me more about life and teaching than I could have ever imagined last August when I started.

The last day was filled with games and, of course, an ice cream party! We celebrated and enjoyed our time together before loading the buses one last time for the school year.  All of my students rode the bus this year so we walked out and the students got on their bus.  Then...one of my favorite memories of the school year took place.  Normally the buses just tear out of the school and the teachers leave.  HOwver, on the last day, it's a bit different.  The teachers all line up and follow the buses over to the road.  Then the buses drive by one by one and the teachers wave them off.  The buses were honking their horns and the students were (literally) hanging out the windows trying to wave goodbye to all their (favorite!!) teachers.  It was the perfect way to end the school year! Again, I wish I had pictures but I forgot.

Anyway, now it's summer time and I can't wait for the festivities to begin.  I am so anxious to enjoy my relaxing summer filled with the beach, sun, drinks, celebrations, vacations, and friends!